Country on hold as we wait for PM

SO, it is going to be a battle royal between Messrs Hunt and Johnson as to who becomes the next prime minister. Meanwhile the business of our country is more or less put on hold, for the incoming man will have his own ideas and policies, and it would be a bit pointless to enact legislation which was contrary to his wishes.

It could be construed that the Tory party could carry on in Government during this interregnum in line with its manifesto but, as pensioners have seen, promises made at the last election can easily be broken, as free TV licences become history.

The next three weeks is going to be a nervous wait for many MPs, not only current ministers, but those aspiring to climb further up the greasy pole. Those currently in post will worry as to whether they have a future career in Government, or will they have to resume their seats on the back benches. For others, a hope that preferment will come their way, leading to greater glory and perhaps a place in history books yet to be written.

Why our nation has to wait a full month to get the result is a mystery to me, for the members of the Tory Party qualified to vote will have heard all the arguments and the policies of each of the candidates, so I would have thought a maximum of 14 days would have been sufficient, a lot less if some form of controlled electronic voting was adopted. Such modern ideas do not cut much ice with members of Parliament who like to trudge through the lobbies taking 20 minutes to record a vote instead of 20 seconds electronically.

For now, the media in general will be devoting much time to recording what each candidate is going to outline for the immediate and long-term future for this country. Brexit will be the top topic, but there are so many other pressing matters, such as the NHS, soaring crime figures, education, transport and the environment that need decisions now. I hope answers will be forthcoming as to why HS2 has not been scrapped and how a third runway at Heathrow squares with zero emissions!

Politicians!

Russell Luckock is chairman of Birmingham pressings firm

AE Harris